The Orioles began a three-city road trip against struggling teams – to put it kindly – by scoring 13 runs to tie their season high in a romp over the Cardinals in St. Louis.

The 16 hits were the most on the road since Sept. 28, 2024 in Minnesota.

The Orioles went 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position after going 5-for-41 in the previous seven games.

Jackson Holliday and Pete Alonso were a combined 7-for-10 with five RBIs and four runs scored from the top two spots in the lineups. Alonso doubled and hit his 31st home run among his four hits, but he exited the game to rest a sore calf.

Holliday remains in the leadoff role tonight. Alonso is batting second as the designated hitter.

Alonso is slashing .368/.467/.776 (28-for-76) with seven doubles, eight home runs, 18 RBIs, 11 walks and 21 runs scored in 21 games at Busch Stadium. He has a hit in his last 10 road games, batting .579 (22-for-38).

Alonso has totaled 89 RBIs, second in the American League behind Yordan Alvarez’s 91. He could become the eighth player in franchise history to lead the AL in RBIs after Chris Davis (138 in 2013), Miguel Tejada (150 in 2004), Eddie Murray (78 in 1981), Lee May (109 in 1976), Frank Robinson (122 in 1966), Brooks Robinson (118 in 1964), and Jim Gentile (141 in 1961).

Third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit his seventh home run last night, a 450-foot shot at 111.8 mph that snapped his 0-for-16 skid. It was the second-hardest hit ball of his career after a 113.3 mph homer on March 31, 2024 against the Nationals.

Gunnar Henderson remains in the third spot in the order, followed by Samuel Basallo, who’s playing first base. Colton Cowser is in center field.

Kyle Bradish has made two career starts against the Cardinals, both in St. Louis, and allowed three runs with one walk and 17 strikeouts over 12 innings.

Bradish’s curveball has a 26.5 percent whiff rate since the break, compared to 41.1 percent in the first half.

The Orioles have only two teams ahead of them today in the Wild Card chase but remain 2 ½ games back.

Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy, the 18th-overall pick in the 2021 draft, has a 3.54 ERA in 25 starts.

McGreevy’s ERA was 2.92 on July 17, but it took a beating later in the month when he allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Cubs. He allowed three unearned runs in six innings at Wrigley Field on Aug. 15.

He’s never faced the Orioles. Alonso is the only current player with any at-bats against him, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday 2B
Pete Alonso DH
Gunnar Henderson SS
Samuel Basallo 1B
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 3B
Dylan Beavers LF
Leody Taveras RF
Colton Cowser CF
Carlos Narváez C

Kyle Bradish RHP